Taste: (smooth, bitter, creamy, light, powerful) At what point did these “tastes” present themselves: 1/3, 1/2, 3/4 or throughout the entire smoke. For instance: The cigar may have started out with a light pleasant taste but turned bitter halfway through smoking.

The “complexity” of a cigar would also be part of the Taste criteria. Some cigars have a rich, complex taste from start to finish, others build in complexity as they smoke. “Finish” is another. This is determined by the flavors left on the palate after taking a puff. Lighter cigars tend to have very little finish, whereas maduros and cigars made with stronger-tasting fillers have a very distinct finish. These last two factors have more to do with the sensitivity of your taste buds than anything else. Concentrate on the five primary criteria and eventually you’ll become a very good judge of character!